Final Walk-Through Tips

Final Walk-Through Tips

The closing date is finally here and you are excited to close on your home but before you sign it is a good idea to check the property one more time.  The final walk-through is scheduled so you have the opportunity to double check everything with the home one more time before signing on the dotted line.  Here are some tips to make sure you cover all your bases.

Remember that once you sign at the title company and the transaction is funded the property is now officially yours.  The purpose of the walk-through among several things is to make sure it is still in the same condition you agreed to purchase it in.  Many things can go wrong, even in just one day so doing a final walk-through is a good idea to be on the safe side.

Your first priority is to make sure the seller has left the property in the condition you expected.  This not only means in the way it was presented when you made your offer but even after the seller’s belongings have been removed.  Often I find movers may scratch the floors, bump the wall or even discover a big stain an area rug was covering up.  This is the time to check for those things both on the inside and out.

If the seller agreed to make any repairs this is a good time to verify they have been completed but also to your satisfaction.  Too often I see repairs are not completed properly or at all.  What you don’t want to happen is have a situation where you are an hour away from closing and no repairs have been completed.  This leads me to my biggest tip when it comes to walk-throughs, schedule two of them.

Having two walk-throughs might sound excessive however I find it cuts down on last minute issues.  The biggest problem I have encountered is finding repairs are not completed or done properly at the final walk through the day of closing.  For this reason I really like to schedule a walk through one week before closing and another the day of closing.  The week before gives you a chance to verify the repairs and if they are not done properly it gives the seller time to get them addressed.  I have found this to be helpful and not cause big delays like finding out at the last minute a repair has not been completed.

Final walk-throughs are important so be sure to schedule them with time so you are not rushed.  Take your time looking over the house but also the repairs.  Schedule two walk-throughs instead so there is time to make repairs or take care of an issue before closing if one is discovered.  Being prepared goes a long way and scheduling two walk-throughs is an important part of making sure you have no surprises.

With a heart of a teacher I look to educate my clients about the process of buying, selling or renting real estate.  I strongly feel an informed and educated consumer will make better decisions and be less likely to be taken advantage of.

Have questions about this or other topics, don not hesitate to contact me.

Don’t forget to “LIKE” this video and be sure to Subscribe to my YouTube Channel as well.

Luis Cuevas, Realtor®

RE/MAX Cross Country

1990 Justin Road

Highland Village, Texas 75077

(214) 783-0535

Luis@MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Check out my website for more helpful tips:

http://MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel:

http://Youtube.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

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Top 5 Repairs I Look For In An Inspection

Top 5 Repairs I Look For In An Inspection

So the inspection has been done and you are overwhelmed by the report, what repairs are of concern and which are not?  Here are my top 5 repairs I look for when going over an inspection.

Let’s start by acknowledging that no home is perfect and no inspection comes back perfect either.  Also there are more than five items of concern however these are my top five in no particular priority.

  1. Roof - This is a non-negotiable item because it is just that important.  A roof is so important that an insurance company will inspect even after you purchase the home.  If they determine repairs are needed or even replacement they will not cover it and ask that you make the repairs with in a certain period of time.  What happens if you don’t?  They will drop your coverage, which remember you lender expects you to have insurance.  Can you see why this is a non-negotiable?
  2. Foundation - North Texas is covered with clay just underneath the dirt and when that gets to dry it can cause problems with your foundation.  Foundation problems can be small & inexpensive or they can be overwhelmingly expensive.  Not only will a damaged foundation be an issue but dry wall damage, structure and even plumbing issues within the slab.
  3. Plumbing - Plumbing is a necessary function of the home and without it the house is more like a nice shed.  Also this has to be repaired by someone who knows what they are doing which is why a licensed professional is needed.
  4. Electrical - This is the same as plumbing, you don’t want to have the seller do these repairs themselves it is best to leave it to a professional.
  5. HVAC - Remember this is North Texas which means our summers are hot and long, a little AC helps.  Making sure this is in good working condition is key to having a good home ownership experience so start off by having a system working in great working condition.

So those are my top five but by no means are they all I look for.  Just know having a Realtor® by your side is key who is used to seeing these issues and willing to negotiate for you.

With a heart of a teacher I look to educate my clients about the process of buying, selling or renting real estate.  I strongly feel an informed and educated consumer will make better decisions and be less likely to be taken advantage of.

Have questions about this or other topics, don not hesitate to contact me.

Don’t forget to “LIKE” this video and be sure to Subscribe to my YouTube Channel as well.

 

Luis Cuevas, Realtor®

RE/MAX Cross Country

1990 Justin Road

Highland Village, Texas 75077

(214) 783-0535

Luis@MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Check out my website for more helpful tips:

http://MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel:

http://Youtube.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Follow me on Facebook:

http://Facebook.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Thing I Came Across This Week - Plumbing Issues Edition

This week I came across this very common plumbing issue which is the washer connection.  Most people don’t think twice about this item but indeed it is very important.  Usually it will be connected when a buyer first moves in but then never looked at again.

The problem lies in that in many of the connections are not properly installed to begin with.  Often I see improper setups all together which is a great setup for failure.

The correct item to use is a plastic box specifically made for this situation.  It is plastic because it will be contacted with water and not cause issues.  Also the drain is the lowest point, which is super important.  The connections need to be clean, leak free and tightly sealed to the box so there are no gaps where leaks can run down and behind the wall.

Is see this way too often, which it is an inexpensive fix many people fail to address it before it becomes an issue.  Instead the way they usually find out is when it has leaked for weeks, the water has made its way behind the wall, in the drywall, on to the flooring of the room behind the laundry and so on.  At that point it will be a big issue that could have been prevented.

As you can see I am passionate about educating my clients about anything and everything real estate.  With the heart of a teacher I strongly feel that educating a consumer makes them a stronger, smarter consumer who can make better decisions & less likely to be taken advantage of.

Have questions about this or other topics, don not hesitate to contact me.

Don’t forget to “LIKE” this video and be sure to Subscribe to my YouTube Channel as well.

Luis Cuevas, Realtor®

RE/MAX Cross Country

1990 Justin Road

Highland Village, Texas 75077

(214) 783-0535

Luis@MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Check out my website for more helpful tips:

http://MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel:

http://Youtube.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Follow me on Facebook:

http://Facebook.com/MakeNorthTexasHome